Automatic latch.



PATENTED SEPT.' 12, 1905.

H. C. UMPLEBY.

AUTOMATIC LATCH.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.15, 1905.

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AUTOMATIC LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 15, 1905. Serial No. 250,158.

Be it known that I, HARRY C. UMPLEBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Angelica, in the county of Allegany and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in AutomaticLatches, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention is an automatic latch, and more particularly a device ofthis kind to be used in connection with an animal-trap.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient deviceof this kind; and to this end it consists in certain novel features ofconstruction, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trap.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a front end view with thedoor closed. Fig. t is a sectional detail showing the U-shaped tripperreferred to hereinafter.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the cage comprises a floor 5,open sides 6, a top 7, and its rear end is closed by a door 8. The frontend of the cage has a door 9, which is hinged at the top of the cage andhas a spring 1() for closing it. The door is held open by a detcnt-rod11, sliding' on top o'f the cage in a guide 1Q, the outer end of the rodentering a socket in a block 13 on the door. The inner end of the rod isconnected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 111, pivoted at the top ofthe cage. The other arm of the lever is connected by a rod 15 with atilting plate 16 on the floor of the cage and working on pivots 17. Anysuitable means for holding the bait can be employed, as a hook 18,depending from the top of the cage. The bait-holder will be placed 'lclose to the plate 16, so that the bait cannot be reached without theanimal stepping' on the Then this is done, the connections dethe socketin the block 13, thereby permitting the spring 10 to close the door 9.

The means for holding the door closed comprise a spring-bolt 19, whichworks in a casing 20, containing a spring 21. A bracket 22 is secured tothe door-casing 22", in which bracket a U-shaped tripper 23 is slidablysupported. The free ends 9A. and 25, respec- 50 tively, of the tripperextend through the doorcasing to the outside of the cage. The end 24enters a notch made in the bolt 19 to hold it retracted. W'hen the doorswings down to close, it strikes the end Q5 and slides the trip- 55 perrearwardly, which removes its end 24 from the notch in the bolt andreleases the latter, which then shoots forward behind the door, therebysecurely holding it closed. The door is cut away on one side, as at 26,to enable it to pass the bolt and its casing as it swings downwardly toclose. The door also has holes Q7, in which the heads 28 of the screwsQ9, whereby the bracket 22 is secured, fit. This enables the door toshut tightly.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, isuw 1. The combination with a door, ofa sliding bolt for holding' the door closed, and a 70 U-shaped tripperslidably supported adjacent the door-opening, one of the free ends ofthe tripper engaging the bolt for holding it retracted and the otherfree end being engageable by the door for releasing the bolt.

2. The combination with a door, of a sliding bolt extensible behind thedoor for holding it closed, and having a notch, and a U- shaped tripperslidabl y supported on the doorcasing, one of the free ends of thetripper en- 30 tering the notch in the bolt to hold it retracted, andthe other free end being engageable by the door for releasing the bolt.

In testimony whereof .I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY O. UMPLEBY. Witnesses:

I. B. laviN, Jos. F. Samar..

